According to a population-based study published in the British Journal of Urology International, the number of medications a man takes is associated with worse erectile dysfunction (ED).

Researchers evaluated data from men enrolled in the California Men's Health Study (CMHS), to determine the association between ED and polypharmacy use. Men from the Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) health plan, enrolled in the CMHS in 2002, had an age range of 45–69 years. ED and comorbidities of these subjects were identified by questionnaire responses. The number of drugs taken was determined from the year before enrollment through electronic pharmacy records and questionnaire responses.

Among the 37,712 subjects, 10,717 (29%) reported moderate or severe ED. Across all age groups, ED was more prevalent as the number of medications increased. In men taking 0–2, 3–5, 6–9 and ≥10 medications, the percentage of men reporting moderate ED was 15.9, 19.7, 25.5 and 30.9%, respectively (P < 0.001).
 

The researchers conclude that these data suggest that the number of medications a man takes is associated with worse ED, even after co-morbidities have been taken into account. The present research shows a new association between polypharmacy and worsening degrees of erectile function, even when individual medical conditions and other risk factors have been accounted for.